Vietnam, along with its neighbors Laos and Cambodia in the region known as Indo-China had been a part of the South-East Asian French colonial empire for many decades prior (since 1867) to the First Vietnam War (1951-54). But with the Second World War beginning and France being distracted in Europe with the rise of Nazi Germany (1939-45) the French colonies did not have the strength to resist the Japanese invasions of South East Asia. Once Imperial Japan was defeated and the Second World War ended, Vietnam was calling for an end to French influence in the region. Efforts to expel the French had been led by Ho Chi Minh since 1941 but didn’t have any success till around 1947. In 1953 the Viet Minh began a series of successful offensives, led by general Vo Nguyen Giap. The Viet Minh took over large areas in Laos and Hanoi. Eager to make up for the humiliating defeats in World War 2, France wanted to maintain its dominance in the region and stop the Viet Minh from taking any more decisive victories over them. France sent in the French Far East Expeditionary Forces, totaling 14000 men led by Gen. Castries to halt their advance into Vietnam.
At this time however, the military powerhouses of the USSR and the USA were international rivals and were trying to deny the other control of land all over the world. The USSR hoped to replace the French colonials with a Vietnamese communist government by funding the anti-French rebels known as the Viet Minh. In response, the USA hoping to avoid communism from getting a foothold in south-east Asia and possibly spreading to neighboring countries backed the French forces by supplying 37 pilots and aircraft to parachute and drop supplies to the troops. The conflict at Dien Bien Phu began on March 13 1954.
Summary:
The French believed that the valley of Dien Bien Phu would be a suitable staging point to launch operations against the Viet Minh forces pushing into Hanoi. The French hoped to severe the Viet Minh supply lines from China and bait their forces into a conventional battle out in the open where French firepower would eliminate them swiftly. Originally, Gen. Vincent Nguyen Giap wanted to follow a plan of “swift attack, swift victory” but agreed with Ho Chi Minh to only fight when victory was assured. The Viet Minh surrounded the now dug in and fortified French positions. The French commander Christian de Castries divided his roughly 16,000 French troops, reinforced by local T’ai militia from Lau Chai into eight camps around the airfield in a defensive formation. However, a large proportion of the T’ai that came from Lau Chai were ambushed and slaughtered by the Viet Minh on their route to Dien Bien Phu. Of the 2,000 that left 185 made it to the French positions. The French created eight strong points around the command post at Claudine. They were Gabrielle to the north, Isabelle to the far south that would be the last to fall, Dominique, Anne-Marie, Elaine, Huguette, Claudine and Beatrice.
Gen. Giap, despite the French estimations on the Viet Minh’s ability to manoeuvre their artillery up the valley hill sides, was able to position his anti-aircraft and artillery overlooking the French positions on the valley hill sides. This was considered one of the greatest logistical feats in military history along with Hannibal's crossing of the Alps. Heavy bombardment began on the 13th of March, 1954 against the North-eastern bastion “Beautrice” which was overrun in a matter of hours resulting in a loss of access to their airstrip, the French’s only source of ammunition, equipment and first aid. One by one French strong points would fall. Over the next month the French would fight tenaciously but ultimately would be overrun by the Viet Minh on May 7 1954. This resulted in the French government signing over all power in Indo-China to Ho Chi Minh and other competing forces in the area. The French had taken nearly 3,000 casualties, and 8,000 men had been wounded. The Viet Minh had suffered 8,000 casualties and 12,000 wounded but celebrated a massive victory.
Perspectives:
President Eisenhower even stated “no one is more opposed to intervention at this point then I am”, showing their desire to remain neutral whilst still having a hand in denying the Soviets more territory. Ultimately none of the other Western powers had been in support of a conflict in Indo-China at all. The French saw the loss at Dien Bien Phu as another international defeat and humiliation, whilst for many of the Vietnamese this was a source of huge national pride. The Russians and Chinese had invested funds and equipment in the Viet Minh in a bid for them to come out victorious and were as such.
Implications:
The battle of Dien Bien Phu was the first time a guerrilla army had defeated a western power and was a lasting symbol of pride for the anti-colonialist people of Vietnam. The USSR saw this as an opportunity to get a foothold in South-East Asia through the newly divided Vietnam, in the form of the Communist Republic of Vietnam (North). Most of all the French were once again internationally humiliated by this stunning defeat. The USA having had a somewhat passive physical presence in Vietnam given they only supplied aircraft (but shouldered 80% of the finances for the campaign) were able to, when the conflict began to turn for the worst, pull out of the engagement and maintain their international dignity. The victorious Viet Minh would go on to form the Communist Democratic Republic of Vietnam in the north of the country supported by the Chinese and the USSR, while the American South followed Emperor Bao Dai. But hostilities would flare up between both sides as the south claimed the Viet Minh forces had mistreated southern citizens during the conflict leading to a raise in tensions. Simultaneously by 1956 the French had completely withdrawn from Vietnam and many other French colonies would begin demanding independence. The Viet Minh would later try to recreate their success at Dien Bien Phu against the USA military base at Khe-Sahn but would be defeated after 77 days.
Source Analysis: Source 1: This is a photo taken on the ground itself of victorious Viet Minh soldiers waving the communist North flag over Gen. Castries position on May 7 1954. It is unknown who personally took this image other than it was taken by a Viet Minh loyalist but is widely known as the most famous image regarding the fall of Dien Bien Phu. This photograph is very useful in the sense that it shows some of the conditions that the French especially had to endure during the siege as it reveals some of the surroundings. This image may have been deliberately set up with the flag flying heroically above the French as a piece of propaganda for the north but it still reveals some of the conditions and scenery on the last days of the battle.
Source 2: French Newspaper “Le Monde” (the world) published this front cover on the 8th of May 1954 after the apparent defeat of their forces abroad. Whilst this source is not a direct relation to the battle it can give us an insight into the public’s response to the defeat. This source is also reliable in the sense that it was a published and approved article that will have some factually based information that would have been supplied by witnesses who were at the battle. Additionally it reveals how the French would be willing to negotiate now in the left hand article “Un dialogue Franco-Indien”(dialogue begins between France and Indo-China). However this source, as it is entirely French, may present diluted or biased versions of information to appease their readers.
Source 3: This source is a Viet Minh poster published on the 1st of January, 1954. It is appealing to the citizens of North and South Vietnam in an effort to show them the valour and heroism of the Viet Minh troops. This poster was deliberately made to make the Viet Minh look like a just force of liberation that brings the dove of peace. The caption reads “At the Battle of Dien Bien Phu the Viet Minh have won”. Most likely it was designed by communist Vietnamese propagandists. This source is useful for us to analyse how the victory of Dien Bien Phu installed pride in many of the people and how it may have boosted the confidence of the Viet Minh forces. This source is very reliable in terms of analysing how the Viet Minh wanted to win over the people of Vietnam but not necessarily in understanding the true intentions of the army to bring “peace to Vietnam” as they did commit many atrocities to southern Vietnamese people. The poster has a strong bias in their depiction of themselves as heroes.
Source 4: This cartoon published in 1954 by French cartoonist H.B Kohler highlights how a lack of communication and vision resulted in a loss of many French lives and diplomacy only took place after the fact. The cartoon illustrates the ineffectiveness of french government at the time, which can be supported by the fact that Ho Chi Minh traveled to France at one point but found a country in chaos with no one to discuss terms with. This cartoon is also a criticism of the leaders of both parties, as both sides sort a decisive victory at Dien Bien Phu to use as bargaining chips against the other. Hence the image of negotiation on top of the dead soldiers.
Source 5:
This is a painting that hangs above the entrance to the valley of Dien Bien Phu itself. It was placed there as a commemoration of the Viet Minh victory in around the period after of the battle 1954-56. The artist is unknown and the style whilst typical of the region is not associated with any particular artist. Most likely it was painted by a Viet Minh propagandist. This photo of the painting however was taken in 2006 by Bjorn Svesson. This image can illustrate the massive feeling of pride and national identity of the communist Vietnamese people. Dien Bien Phu had been the first time a guerrilla force beat a western power and the North Vietnamese carried this confidence on in later years.
Source 6: This painting was created by Huy Toan a North Vietnamese painter who would later go on to become a military painter for the Viet Minh. This was painted in 1960 and depicts the fall of Dien Bien Phu. Although it does help to illustrate how the Viet Minh felt about the battle and the gruesomeness of the conflict there are some deliberate inaccuracy's . Most likely made to embellish their victory. At the fall of Dien Bien Phu on May 7th there were no light aircraft dropping explosives as the French had lost the use of the airfield weeks before. Parachute drops had ceased a few days before the fall as anti-aircraft fire had become to dangerous to risk. Finally, whilst there was a few American supplied tanks at Dien Bien Phu but most had been bogged down by the heavy rain and/or were lost days if not weeks prior. By this stage the French were dug deep into bunkers and trenches not fighting in open ground. This is an excellent source for understanding how the Viet Minh would depict this victory.
Question one:
“Cold War? Heck, it was a hot war!” (Robert McNamara, US Secretary of Defence 1961 – 1968)
To what extent do you agree with Robert McNamara’s statement that it was a ‘hot war’?
The Cold War stretched for over three decades and impacted millions of lives as the USSR and the USA competed for dominance across the globe. Despite this hostility open conventional warfare never took place earning the decade long standoff the name the “Cold War”. However the social, historical and political ramifications would impact people for years all across the world such as the abolishment of many colonial settlements all across the world that were all most always supported or rejected by one of the two superpowers e.g. Vietnam, Korea and Cuba. Although open engagement never took place the tension and the stakes set by these two powers against one another would be undeniably one of the most intense wars ever fought that involved numerous countries.
Although the rivalry between the USSR and the USA was public knowledge and neither side tried to hide their distaste for the others political and social views. It should not be called a hot war as tensions between peoples have existed all throughout history but only when they are acted upon are they called a war. In this situation the engagement between the USSR and the USA was dubbed the “Cold War” as a way of recognising this period as a whole and understanding that it was a war of information, “we are no longer in the Cold War, eavesdropping on friends at a table is unacceptable”-Vladimir Putin.
However, whilst the Cold War may not be a traditional war Robert McNamara was secretary of defence throughout the most intense years of the Cold War and his account regards it strongly as a “Hot War”. Richard Nixon used a similar analogy saying “the Cold War isn’t thawing, it is burning with a deadly heat”. Referencing how the name cold doesn’t account for the stakes and the passion both these two sides.
Whilst the Cold War’s name is befitting and reveals the political intrigue involved with the engagement it does not do the passions, stakes and ideologies justice for how intense they were for so many years.
Question two:
Why is the Cold War worth remembering? (Hint: you may like to use the criteria for historical significance that are listed above)
The Cold War is worth remembering as it was a period in which so much was at stake for the whole world. By the end of the war in 1990 one side had triumphed after years of two singular countries having a role in nearly every major international conflict in the world. USA and the USSR. This was a conflict that split the world in two, metaphorically and literally “an Iron Curtain has descended across the continent” – Winston Churchill.
Additionally the Cold War came at a time of revolution across the world in the mindset of people, no longer would European powers have colonial empires spanning multiple continents. As countries saw their opportunity to gain independence the USA and the USSR would use these revolutions to hinder the other in their ideological expansion. In Vietnam the USA would physically fight in the war whilst the USSR heightened the conflict by funding the USA’s opponent. The Cold War is worth remembering as it arguably increased the bloodshed of these wars tenfold as they brought new weapons and technological advancements in warfare to these countries. “Pakistan has suffered the aftermaths of the Cold War… and the Cold War has left deep imprints on our society”. –Asif Ali Zadari. Remnants of the Cold War still remain in our world today, affecting political relations between countries and nations such as North Korea that still hold to their idealism left over from the Cold War.
Biblio details:
Walsh, B. GCSE Modern World History 2nd ed
Hodder Education, London, 2001
Notes:
A useful text for Year 11 History which utilises source material in a good learning way. While it has a strong British orientation it does look at the Cold war from two perspectives.
Biblio details:
Brawley, Sean, Chris Dixon, and Jeff Green. Conflict In Indochina 1954-1979. Port Melbourne, Vic.: Cambridge University Press, 2005. Print.
Notes:
A useful text that supplies some interesting facts about the prelude to Dien Bein Phu and Vietnam as a whole before but lacks any substantial information about the battle itself. It does however reference at times important people from the time that offer an interesting insight into why this battle occurred such as Ho Ch Minh.
Biblio details:
Cantwell, Thomas R. Conflict In Indochina. Sydney: McGraw-Hill, 2005. Print.
Notes:
Another interesting book that does include a useful bio about each of the commanders and highlights the actions of the USA and the USSR in regards to the Indo-China war but again lacks a thorough explanation of the battle alone. It also lacks many sources such as quotes from people involved with the battle.
Biblio details:
"Remembering Dien Bien Phu". Frontline.in. N.p., 2016. Web. 8 Aug. 2016.
Notes:
An extremely useful site that comes in the form of an online newspaper. There is a two page article that thoroughly explains the intricacies and military manoeuvres of the two forces. It also has a section that details Vietnam after the war and how Dien Bein Phu today.
Biblio details:
"Battle Of Dien Bien Phu". Wikipedia. N.p., 2016. Web. 8 Aug. 2016.
Notes:
Overall probably the most useful source as it had a wealth of information as well as links to other more detailed explanations of certain areas regarding Dien Bien Phu. It was also easy to navigate with the statistics of the conflict clearly stated. The site quoted multiple witnesses and figures involved.
Dien Bien Phu:
By Henry Kerr
https://www.timetoast.com/timelines/1324022/edit
Back ground:
Vietnam, along with its neighbors Laos and Cambodia in the region known as Indo-China had been a part of the South-East Asian French colonial empire for many decades prior (since 1867) to the First Vietnam War (1951-54). But with the Second World War beginning and France being distracted in Europe with the rise of Nazi Germany (1939-45) the French colonies did not have the strength to resist the Japanese invasions of South East Asia. Once Imperial Japan was defeated and the Second World War ended, Vietnam was calling for an end to French influence in the region. Efforts to expel the French had been led by Ho Chi Minh since 1941 but didn’t have any success till around 1947. In 1953 the Viet Minh began a series of successful offensives, led by general Vo Nguyen Giap. The Viet Minh took over large areas in Laos and Hanoi. Eager to make up for the humiliating defeats in World War 2, France wanted to maintain its dominance in the region and stop the Viet Minh from taking any more decisive victories over them. France sent in the French Far East Expeditionary Forces, totaling 14000 men led by Gen. Castries to halt their advance into Vietnam.
At this time however, the military powerhouses of the USSR and the USA were international rivals and were trying to deny the other control of land all over the world. The USSR hoped to replace the French colonials with a Vietnamese communist government by funding the anti-French rebels known as the Viet Minh. In response, the USA hoping to avoid communism from getting a foothold in south-east Asia and possibly spreading to neighboring countries backed the French forces by supplying 37 pilots and aircraft to parachute and drop supplies to the troops. The conflict at Dien Bien Phu began on March 13 1954.
Summary:
The French believed that the valley of Dien Bien Phu would be a suitable staging point to launch operations against the Viet Minh forces pushing into Hanoi. The French hoped to severe the Viet Minh supply lines from China and bait their forces into a conventional battle out in the open where French firepower would eliminate them swiftly. Originally, Gen. Vincent Nguyen Giap wanted to follow a plan of “swift attack, swift victory” but agreed with Ho Chi Minh to only fight when victory was assured. The Viet Minh surrounded the now dug in and fortified French positions. The French commander Christian de Castries divided his roughly 16,000 French troops, reinforced by local T’ai militia from Lau Chai into eight camps around the airfield in a defensive formation. However, a large proportion of the T’ai that came from Lau Chai were ambushed and slaughtered by the Viet Minh on their route to Dien Bien Phu. Of the 2,000 that left 185 made it to the French positions. The French created eight strong points around the command post at Claudine. They were Gabrielle to the north, Isabelle to the far south that would be the last to fall, Dominique, Anne-Marie, Elaine, Huguette, Claudine and Beatrice.
Gen. Giap, despite the French estimations on the Viet Minh’s ability to manoeuvre their artillery up the valley hill sides, was able to position his anti-aircraft and artillery overlooking the French positions on the valley hill sides. This was considered one of the greatest logistical feats in military history along with Hannibal's crossing of the Alps. Heavy bombardment began on the 13th of March, 1954 against the North-eastern bastion “Beautrice” which was overrun in a matter of hours resulting in a loss of access to their airstrip, the French’s only source of ammunition, equipment and first aid. One by one French strong points would fall. Over the next month the French would fight tenaciously but ultimately would be overrun by the Viet Minh on May 7 1954. This resulted in the French government signing over all power in Indo-China to Ho Chi Minh and other competing forces in the area. The French had taken nearly 3,000 casualties, and 8,000 men had been wounded. The Viet Minh had suffered 8,000 casualties and 12,000 wounded but celebrated a massive victory.
Perspectives:
President Eisenhower even stated “no one is more opposed to intervention at this point then I am”, showing their desire to remain neutral whilst still having a hand in denying the Soviets more territory. Ultimately none of the other Western powers had been in support of a conflict in Indo-China at all. The French saw the loss at Dien Bien Phu as another international defeat and humiliation, whilst for many of the Vietnamese this was a source of huge national pride. The Russians and Chinese had invested funds and equipment in the Viet Minh in a bid for them to come out victorious and were as such.
Implications:
The battle of Dien Bien Phu was the first time a guerrilla army had defeated a western power and was a lasting symbol of pride for the anti-colonialist people of Vietnam. The USSR saw this as an opportunity to get a foothold in South-East Asia through the newly divided Vietnam, in the form of the Communist Republic of Vietnam (North). Most of all the French were once again internationally humiliated by this stunning defeat. The USA having had a somewhat passive physical presence in Vietnam given they only supplied aircraft (but shouldered 80% of the finances for the campaign) were able to, when the conflict began to turn for the worst, pull out of the engagement and maintain their international dignity. The victorious Viet Minh would go on to form the Communist Democratic Republic of Vietnam in the north of the country supported by the Chinese and the USSR, while the American South followed Emperor Bao Dai. But hostilities would flare up between both sides as the south claimed the Viet Minh forces had mistreated southern citizens during the conflict leading to a raise in tensions. Simultaneously by 1956 the French had completely withdrawn from Vietnam and many other French colonies would begin demanding independence. The Viet Minh would later try to recreate their success at Dien Bien Phu against the USA military base at Khe-Sahn but would be defeated after 77 days.
Source Analysis:
Source 1:
This is a photo taken on the ground itself of victorious Viet Minh soldiers waving the communist North flag over Gen. Castries position on May 7 1954. It is unknown who personally took this image other than it was taken by a Viet Minh loyalist but is widely known as the most famous image regarding the fall of Dien Bien Phu. This photograph is very useful in the sense that it shows some of the conditions that the French especially had to endure during the siege as it reveals some of the surroundings. This image may have been deliberately set up with the flag flying heroically above the French as a piece of propaganda for the north but it still reveals some of the conditions and scenery on the last days of the battle.
Source 2:
French Newspaper “Le Monde” (the world) published this front cover on the 8th of May 1954 after the apparent defeat of their forces abroad. Whilst this source is not a direct relation to the battle it can give us an insight into the public’s response to the defeat. This source is also reliable in the sense that it was a published and approved article that will have some factually based information that would have been supplied by witnesses who were at the battle. Additionally it reveals how the French would be willing to negotiate now in the left hand article “Un dialogue Franco-Indien”(dialogue begins between France and Indo-China). However this source, as it is entirely French, may present diluted or biased versions of information to appease their readers.
Source 3:
This source is a Viet Minh poster published on the 1st of January, 1954. It is appealing to the citizens of North and South Vietnam in an effort to show them the valour and heroism of the Viet Minh troops. This poster was deliberately made to make the Viet Minh look like a just force of liberation that brings the dove of peace. The caption reads “At the Battle of Dien Bien Phu the Viet Minh have won”. Most likely it was designed by communist Vietnamese propagandists. This source is useful for us to analyse how the victory of Dien Bien Phu installed pride in many of the people and how it may have boosted the confidence of the Viet Minh forces. This source is very reliable in terms of analysing how the Viet Minh wanted to win over the people of Vietnam but not necessarily in understanding the true intentions of the army to bring “peace to Vietnam” as they did commit many atrocities to southern Vietnamese people. The poster has a strong bias in their depiction of themselves as heroes.
Source 4:
This cartoon published in 1954 by French cartoonist H.B Kohler highlights how a lack of communication and vision resulted in a loss of many French lives and diplomacy only took place after the fact. The cartoon illustrates the ineffectiveness of french government at the time, which can be supported by the fact that Ho Chi Minh traveled to France at one point but found a country in chaos with no one to discuss terms with. This cartoon is also a criticism of the leaders of both parties, as both sides sort a decisive victory at Dien Bien Phu to use as bargaining chips against the other. Hence the image of negotiation on top of the dead soldiers.
Source 5:
This is a painting that hangs above the entrance to the valley of Dien Bien Phu itself. It was placed there as a commemoration of the Viet Minh victory in around the period after of the battle 1954-56. The artist is unknown and the style whilst typical of the region is not associated with any particular artist. Most likely it was painted by a Viet Minh propagandist. This photo of the painting however was taken in 2006 by Bjorn Svesson. This image can illustrate the massive feeling of pride and national identity of the communist Vietnamese people. Dien Bien Phu had been the first time a guerrilla force beat a western power and the North Vietnamese carried this confidence on in later years.Source 6: This painting was created by Huy Toan a North Vietnamese painter who would later go on to become a military painter for the Viet Minh. This was painted in 1960 and depicts the fall of Dien Bien Phu. Although it does help to illustrate how the Viet Minh felt about the battle and the gruesomeness of the conflict there are some deliberate inaccuracy's . Most likely made to embellish their victory. At the fall of Dien Bien Phu on May 7th there were no light aircraft dropping explosives as the French had lost the use of the airfield weeks before. Parachute drops had ceased a few days before the fall as anti-aircraft fire had become to dangerous to risk. Finally, whilst there was a few American supplied tanks at Dien Bien Phu but most had been bogged down by the heavy rain and/or were lost days if not weeks prior. By this stage the French were dug deep into bunkers and trenches not fighting in open ground. This is an excellent source for understanding how the Viet Minh would depict this victory.
Question one:
“Cold War? Heck, it was a hot war!” (Robert McNamara, US Secretary of Defence 1961 – 1968)
To what extent do you agree with Robert McNamara’s statement that it was a ‘hot war’?
The Cold War stretched for over three decades and impacted millions of lives as the USSR and the USA competed for dominance across the globe. Despite this hostility open conventional warfare never took place earning the decade long standoff the name the “Cold War”. However the social, historical and political ramifications would impact people for years all across the world such as the abolishment of many colonial settlements all across the world that were all most always supported or rejected by one of the two superpowers e.g. Vietnam, Korea and Cuba. Although open engagement never took place the tension and the stakes set by these two powers against one another would be undeniably one of the most intense wars ever fought that involved numerous countries.
Although the rivalry between the USSR and the USA was public knowledge and neither side tried to hide their distaste for the others political and social views. It should not be called a hot war as tensions between peoples have existed all throughout history but only when they are acted upon are they called a war. In this situation the engagement between the USSR and the USA was dubbed the “Cold War” as a way of recognising this period as a whole and understanding that it was a war of information, “we are no longer in the Cold War, eavesdropping on friends at a table is unacceptable”-Vladimir Putin.
However, whilst the Cold War may not be a traditional war Robert McNamara was secretary of defence throughout the most intense years of the Cold War and his account regards it strongly as a “Hot War”. Richard Nixon used a similar analogy saying “the Cold War isn’t thawing, it is burning with a deadly heat”. Referencing how the name cold doesn’t account for the stakes and the passion both these two sides.
Whilst the Cold War’s name is befitting and reveals the political intrigue involved with the engagement it does not do the passions, stakes and ideologies justice for how intense they were for so many years.
Question two:
Why is the Cold War worth remembering? (Hint: you may like to use the criteria for historical significance that are listed above)
The Cold War is worth remembering as it was a period in which so much was at stake for the whole world. By the end of the war in 1990 one side had triumphed after years of two singular countries having a role in nearly every major international conflict in the world. USA and the USSR. This was a conflict that split the world in two, metaphorically and literally “an Iron Curtain has descended across the continent” – Winston Churchill.
Additionally the Cold War came at a time of revolution across the world in the mindset of people, no longer would European powers have colonial empires spanning multiple continents. As countries saw their opportunity to gain independence the USA and the USSR would use these revolutions to hinder the other in their ideological expansion. In Vietnam the USA would physically fight in the war whilst the USSR heightened the conflict by funding the USA’s opponent. The Cold War is worth remembering as it arguably increased the bloodshed of these wars tenfold as they brought new weapons and technological advancements in warfare to these countries. “Pakistan has suffered the aftermaths of the Cold War… and the Cold War has left deep imprints on our society”. –Asif Ali Zadari. Remnants of the Cold War still remain in our world today, affecting political relations between countries and nations such as North Korea that still hold to their idealism left over from the Cold War.
Biblio details:
Walsh, B. GCSE Modern World History 2nd ed
Hodder Education, London, 2001
Notes:
A useful text for Year 11 History which utilises source material in a good learning way. While it has a strong British orientation it does look at the Cold war from two perspectives.
Biblio details:
Brawley, Sean, Chris Dixon, and Jeff Green. Conflict In Indochina 1954-1979. Port Melbourne, Vic.: Cambridge University Press, 2005. Print.
Notes:
A useful text that supplies some interesting facts about the prelude to Dien Bein Phu and Vietnam as a whole before but lacks any substantial information about the battle itself. It does however reference at times important people from the time that offer an interesting insight into why this battle occurred such as Ho Ch Minh.
Biblio details:
Cantwell, Thomas R. Conflict In Indochina. Sydney: McGraw-Hill, 2005. Print.
Notes:
Another interesting book that does include a useful bio about each of the commanders and highlights the actions of the USA and the USSR in regards to the Indo-China war but again lacks a thorough explanation of the battle alone. It also lacks many sources such as quotes from people involved with the battle.
Biblio details:
"Remembering Dien Bien Phu". Frontline.in. N.p., 2016. Web. 8 Aug. 2016.
Notes:
An extremely useful site that comes in the form of an online newspaper. There is a two page article that thoroughly explains the intricacies and military manoeuvres of the two forces. It also has a section that details Vietnam after the war and how Dien Bein Phu today.
Biblio details:
"Battle Of Dien Bien Phu". Wikipedia. N.p., 2016. Web. 8 Aug. 2016.
Notes:
Overall probably the most useful source as it had a wealth of information as well as links to other more detailed explanations of certain areas regarding Dien Bien Phu. It was also easy to navigate with the statistics of the conflict clearly stated. The site quoted multiple witnesses and figures involved.